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RUGBY FOOTBALL

The present All Blacks seem to be going the right way to put up a bigger average than the 'original All Blacks who toured the British Isles in 1905. So far they have played five matches and scored 190 points, without having a point scored against them. The Taranaki men don't appear to be shining in the scoring line as much as mmht have been expected. According to the brief reports we have in hand and the individual scorers of two matches only, Dewar seems to be the only Taranaki man with a try to his credit. In all probability things would assume a different aspect if the individual scorers for each match were to hand. McKenzie now takes the lead with 15 points to his credit, while Lynch and McDonald (the ex-New Zealand rep.) have 12 and 9 points each respectively. Cuthill and Dick Roberts come next with 8 points each. Mitchinson has 7 points to his 'credit, Downing 6, Stohr 5, while Dewar, Bruce. Wylie, McGregor and Taylor claim 3 points each. While on the subject it may interest some of our readers to state a few facts about the All Blacks who toured the British Isles in 1905. In England and Scotland they played 32 matches; won 31 and lost 1 (Wales) by 3 to nil. They scored 829 points, with only 39 points being registered against them, while their average was 26 points a match. They also nlayed a match with France, and soundly defeated the Frenchmen by 38 points to 8. Theirs was truly a remarkable record for first-class football.

A writer in the Sydney Referee remarks on the All Blacks' visit to California as follows: "They are paying this visit to California at the right moment to help the Rugby game in that part of America. The visit of the American Universities' team to Australia and the return visit by the Australians to California last season have paved the way to the campaign to be shortly entered upon. The New Zealanders will be found more* strenuous and more formidable opponents than the Australians were, and the experience against such a team is needed by the Americans to put the finish to their football. It is not difficult to picture in the near future America holding her own in Rugby with a majority of the national teams which have become eminent in the game.""

Whether one plays -football or not, if one plays Rugger, League or Soccer, or is only interested in the playing of a manly game, it is good to read that, as the Australasian reports, of the year's football in Australia: "The campaign, which finishes this week, has been severe; teams on the whole have been better ■ matched than hitherto; yet those who Lave followed football through the winter, not as partisans but as onlookere and critics, say that in no season within their recollection have there been fewer offences against either law or etiquette. There has been no lack of keenness. The chief games in the League and Association have in most instances been stoutly and closely contested, yet mean or cowardly acts have been conspicuously few. All things considered, players

are alike to be congratulated upon the character and conduct of the games in the season that is being brought to a prosperous and exciting ciose."

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